1976 Ford Cortina vs. 1979 Oldsmobile Starfire
To start off, 1979 Oldsmobile Starfire is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 4,997 cc (8 cylinders), 1979 Oldsmobile Starfire is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Oldsmobile Starfire (130 HP @ 3200 RPM) has 74 more horse power than 1976 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Oldsmobile Starfire should accelerate faster than 1976 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Oldsmobile Starfire weights approximately 388 kg more than 1976 Ford Cortina. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1979 Oldsmobile Starfire (332 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 241 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1979 Oldsmobile Starfire will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Ford Cortina | 1979 Oldsmobile Starfire | |
| Make | Ford | Oldsmobile |
| Model | Cortina | Starfire |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1298 cc | 4997 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 56 HP | 130 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Torque | 91 Nm | 332 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 95 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 63 mm | 88.4 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 8.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 945 kg | 1333 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 4570 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1280 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2450 mm | 2470 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 55 L | 70 L |
